Umatilla teacher claims she 'can't help wanting these hot young boys'

Share this story

UMATILLA, Ore. -- When a teacher admits to sex with a student, you wouldn't expect it to take years to ban that teacher from a classroom.

But this was the case in Umatilla County. A teacher admitted she couldn't keep herself away from what she called "hot boys" at Umatilla High School.

She may have lost her license, but she's certainly not in jail.It was a scathing report by the state of Oregon. The agency that monitors teachers says Kristle Vandever, 44, violated five major codes while teaching in the Umatilla School District. The "Teacher Standards and Practices Commission," known as TSPC, reports evidence of Vandever providing alcohol to students and performing a sex act on a teen in her car. Oregon says some of the sex acts were recorded on a cell phone and shown to other students.

Shocking, in and of itself. But you may be more concerned to learn Vandever was never charged with a crime. And, it took two years to ban her from a classroom.

Police told KEPR there wasn't enough evidence to prove a crime. It's disturbing when you consider her own words. In an email Vandever sent to the school district, she explains that getting out of jail time was 'because of luck' and she 'can't help wanting these hot young boys.'

It's been two years since Kristle Vandever broke all these rules, but her license was just revoked last month. KEPR wanted to know what took so long.

Tricia Mooney has been a teacher and administrator in Oregon for years. She explained that revoking a teaching license is a lengthy process.

Assistant Superintendent Mooney tells KEPR, "To make sure we're still protecting the employee's rights and not jumping to conclusions."

And even though Vandever seemingly admits to bad behavior, it isn't enough.

Mooney continues, "If police are involved, we have to step back, let them do their job, then we do our job."

After what police say was an extensive police investigation, no criminal charges were filed against Vandever.

Mooney says, "Even if police can't prove anything, TSPC is still going to say you're held to a higher standard."

To get all sides of the story, KEPR went to the former teacher's house.Vandever wasn't there. Her roommate told us she has a new job out of teaching.

Vandever was a teacher at McNary Elementary when the investigation began in 2010. She quickly resigned that Spring.

KEPR took this one step further to see how often licenses are revoked. We learned the TSPC has revoked 17 licenses in Oregon so far in 2012. 16 were revoked in all of 2011. Despite that, Commission members said they can't say that cases like these are necessarily happening more.

Grand Opening for Forte Studios in Kennewick WA. A Studio for Photographers to have access to a fully stocked photo studio without the cost of owing their own studio. Great for amateur and professionals looking for a great place to produce some great photos.